Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Google price target raised to $835 from $800 at SunTrustSunTrust believes Google's positive FTC ruling regarding anti-trust is a positive and indicates settlement talks in Europe could also go in its favor. Shares are Buy rated.

Competitors ask EU to probe Google ad technology market practices, FT saysSeveral of Google's (GOOG) rivals, including OpenX and AppNexus, which is part owned by WPP (WPPGY) and Microsoft (MSFT), have suggested that the European Union investigate the internet giant, claiming it may be unlawfully stifling competition in the market for advertising technology, the Financial Times reports. The companies' grievances relate to the way in which Google bundles its advertising technology products through contracts that may discourage or even prevent customers from using competitors' services, the report says. The companies in question have submitted documents to the EU expressing concern over the issue but have not submitted an official complaint, the report adds. Reference Link

Sony to create drone company to offer services for business customers, WSJ saysSony (SNE) plans to create a drone company to offer services like inspecting aged infrastructure and surveying land that is difficult to access, The Wall Street Journal reports. The drone company, Aerosense, will be created in a joint venture with ZMP Inc, a Tokyo startup which specializes in autopilot technology. Amazon (AMZN) and Google (GOOG) are currently researching the use of drones for package delivery, the report notes. Reference Link

Yahoo CEO sees Q3 pressure on revenue ex-TAC and adjusted EBITDASpeaking on the company's Q2 earnings conference call, Yahoo (YHOO) CEO Marissa Mayer said she is "pleased" with momentum in display business, adding that the company will continue to focus on sustaining GAAP revenue growth while striving to grow adjusted EBITDA. She noted search clicks were up 13% for the quarter, and mobile user base was up 14%. Mayer cautioned that the Gemini search platform will see pricing pressure and reduced revenue per search in the near-term as Yahoo optimizes the service. She said she expects "some" pressure in Q3 including pressure on revenue ex-TAC and adjusted EBITDA, and remarked separately that Yahoo has been investing "modestly" over the past two years in algorithmic and paid search technologies. Finally, Mayer declined to speculate on any future agreements with Google (GOOG). CFO Ken Goldman said the company's "highest priority" is to execute the Alibaba (BABA) spinoff this year. Goldman also noted that Yahoo's board of directors and management team have met with advisors to review alternatives with regards to Yahoo Japan, but had no specific conclusion to share.

Sell PayPal amid mounting payments competition, Piper saysShares of PayPal (PYPL) advanced over 5% yesterday in the stock's first day of trading following a split from eBay (EBAY), with the majority of research firms issuing optimistic notes on its prospects. This morning, however, analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray recommends selling the share as competition grows in the digital payments space. BEARS: Munster started shares of PayPal with an Underweight rating, the firm's equivalent of a "Sell," saying increased competition could pressure the stock's multiple over the next 6-24 months. Google's (GOOG) Android Pay and Apple's (AAPL) Apple Pay will give consumers a "real alternative to PayPal" for the first time, Munster tells investors in his research note. In addition, interest in payments from Amazon.com (AMZN) and Facebook (FB) bring potential for more digital wallet offerings, the analyst notes. Munster set a $30 price target for PayPal. Of note, Evercore ISI also started coverage of PayPal shares yesterday with a Sell rating. BULLS: Wells Fargo initiated coverage of PayPal yesterday with an Outperform rating, saying the company's unique assets will enable it to maintain its leadership role in digital payments and benefit from the growth of e-commerce. Also upbeat was Robert W. Baird analyst Colin Sebastian, who contends that PayPal has the top pure play online payment system and is continuing to grow its share of the Internet payment market. PayPal should be able to innovate more effectively after its spin-off, added the analyst, who set a $45 price target on the shares. PRICE ACTION: Shares of PayPal are pointing toward further gains in their second day of standalone trading, with the stock up about 2.7% to $41.55 in pre-market trading.

Google shutting down Google+ Photos beginning August 1Google said in a blog post, "In May, we launched Google Photos as the home for all your photos and videos. With Google Photos you can store unlimited high quality photos and videos for free, find photos fast, and see them organized by what matters to you. Plus, you can bring moments to life and share anywhere with anyone. In an effort to ensure everyone has the best photos experience we can deliver, on August 1st we’ll start to shut down Google+ Photos -- initially on Android, and soon thereafter on the Web and iOS. If you’re still using Google+ Photos, now is a great time to make the switch. You may have seen a prompt in Google+ Photos on Android with a link to download the new Google Photos. Don’t worry, all your photos and videos will still be saved and available after you switch to the new, stand-alone Google Photos app. With the new app you’ll still be able to backup, edit, and share your photos and videos, with unlimited storage, automatic organization, and more." Reference Link

PayPal initiated with an Underweight at Piper JaffrayPiper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster started shares of PayPal (PYPL) with an Underweight rating saying increased competition could pressure the stock's multiple over the next 6-24 months. Underweight is Piper's equivalent of a sell rating. Google's (GOOG) Android Pay and Apple's (AAPL) Apple Pay will give consumers a "real alternative to PayPal" for the first time, Munster tells investors in a research note. In addition, interest in payments from Amazon.com (AMZN) and Facebook (FB) bring potential for more digital wallet offerings, the analyst notes. Munster set a $30 price target for PayPal, which began trading yesterday following a spinoff from parent company eBay (EBAY). Shares of the online payment system closed Monday up $2.08 to $40.47.

YouTube advertisers surge 40% over past year, FT reportsThe number of advertisers on Google's YouTube has increased more than 40% in the past year, the Financial Times reports. YouTube said that advertisers from the top 100 brands, ranked by Interbrand, were spending 60% more on advertising than last year, the report says. The website does not disclose revenue figures, but certain data show that it is benefiting from a surge in demand for digital video advertising as millennials spend more time on the site, the report says. Reference Link